December 2010

CHRISTMAS-TIME IS HERE – ALREADY! Last year at this time, I had just married my husband, Gerson. "Time flies when you're having fun" has proven to be a true saying for us! Where does the time go so quickly?? One thing for sure I've learned is, as surely as there are times that life is difficult – just as surely – with faith, joy comes in the morning. Whatever difficulty you may be going through, my prayer for you and your loved ones this Christmas is that 2011 will bring new meaning and joy to all you have been blessed with, and that God will add to it 100 fold!

The beginning of 2010 started out with a lot of adjustments for our family, but we were all up for the challenges. Having been through what feels like hell and back for my daughters Izabella & Katya, my son Chris & his wife, and me the past four years has taught us that the good seasons in our lives must be embraced. There are so many things we may take for granted in a year's time, because we have exactly everything we need, and things exactly the way we want it. But the danger is thinking things will stay exactly that way. Life is ever changing. Some things you have today may be gone tomorrow. What seems un-endurable today will get more endurable and better with time. I want to encourage you today to reach out and volunteer your time to a hospital, a burn center, a hospice care, a nursing home, a food pantry for the homeless, a regional center, a church project – whatever you see as a situation you would not want to be alone in.

I am aware of how many people in the country have had financial trouble this year, more than the previous. At this time of year we often feel obligated to give a fancy gift to show how much we care. If you were not able to bless someone you care about with something "tangible" this year – instead I want to encourage you to feel confident that just telling those who are important or special to you the reasons they are important or special to you. Believe it or not the memory of your kind words are the ones they will cherish -- so much more than the memory of the moment they saw a gift in a box with a bow on it! If you can't sit eye-to-eye and say in person, then an email is still enough. Sometimes it's even easier to organize your words in writing. Expressing the love in your heart is an amazing gift!

The Baby in the manger gave us a message, teaching us what is the 2nd greatest commandment – to love others as you love yourself. From my heart I say: Gift giving is only part of Christmas. Having those you care about knowing and remembering your thoughtful, heartfelt words are what's really important by the end of Christmas Day.

You are all so appreciated and special to me. I love the way you speak to me on my Hunter Tylo Forum, in Facebook, in cards and letters, as if we have met in person and are my long time friend. Each of you makes me smile and be proud of how I bring a spark to your day. Together, all of you make me feel so special to know I have so many FRIENDS from ALL OVER THE WORLD! God's BEST BLESSINGS to EVERY ONE of you reading my words. I've got the BEST FRIENDS EVER!

MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH LOVE AND GRATITUDE,

Hunter Tylo